The Sports Recruitment Company Business Careers within Sport Loughborough University

1. The Sports Recruitment Company Business Careers within Sport Loughborough University

2. Alex Wicks • Graduated from Loughborough University in 2001 with a BA in Politics & Economics • Joined Badenoch & Clark Recruitment Specialists, recruiting into the finance and telecoms sectors in London for 2 years before leaving to join The Sports Recruitment Company in April 2004 as a consultant recruiting for sports marketing agencies • In December 2006 was promoted to Manage the Sponsorship & Events Division for The Sports Recruitment Company

3. The Sports Recruitment Company • Sports industry specialists, servicing the business of sport on an international scale • 16 staff, offices in London (Covent Garden) and Geneva • International network of over 25,000 contacts • National, international, global work completed • Mainly middle to senior end of market • Sectors: Agencies and Sponsors, Governing Bodies and Federations, Clubs and Teams, Venues, Sporting Goods, Broadcast and Media, Betting and Gaming, Sports Law International Events, Hosting and Bidding cities.

4. Divisional Sectors - Agencies and Sponsors Types of organisations: Agencies (marketing, sponsorship, PR, research, events, player representation, hospitality, licensing), brands that sponsor sport Typical roles: Account management, event management, marketing managers, sponsorship managers, sales, business development, sponsorship sales What clients look for: Languages, client relationship skills, marketing mix understanding, drive and motivation Example employers: IMG, Octagon, WPP, Hill and Knowlton, Castrol, Red Bull, O2

5. Divisional Sectors - Governing Bodies & Federations, Clubs and Teams • Types of organisations: • National and international governing bodies and federations, registered charities,football,cricket, rugby, motor sport teams • Typical roles: • Commercial managers, event management, marketing managers, sponsorship managers, communications managers, sales, business development • What clients look for: • Account management, interpersonal skills, sales drive, integrity, languages, agency experience • Example employers: • The FA, Premier Rugby, UEFA, NBA, ITF, Arsenal, Everton, Williams F1, World Rally Championships

6. Divisional Sectors - Sporting Goods Types of organisations: Sporting goods brands Typical roles: Retail marketing managers, product marketing managers, product designers, product developers, key account management, area sales managers What clients look for: Knowledge of retail, product knowledge, product design, account management of retailers Example employers: Puma, adidas, Nike, Billabong, Umbro

7. Divisional Sectors - Broadcast and Media Types of organisations: Commercial and public TV and media, cable and satellite services, mobile operators, interactive/digital providers, media rights holders Typical roles: Marketing managers, communications managers, sales (advertising, TV rights, affiliate, business development), production and content editors What clients look for: Advertising sales experience, content management experience, marketing experience Example employers: Sky, ESPN, Eurosport, IMG Media, Sportfive

8. Divisional Sectors – Public Sports • Types of organisations:National and regional government, Local Councils, Government funded groups and initiatives, Regional development agencies • Typical roles:Head of sport, community development manager, Olympic co-ordinators, marketing managers, event managers • What clients look for:Public sector experience, regulatory and government exposure, events experience, project management • Example employers: Sport England, UK Sport, Local Councils, DCMS, County Sports Partnerships

9. Divisional Sectors - International Events, Hosting and Bidding Cities Types of organisations: Global, regional and national sporting events and organising committees Typical roles: Senior management: media services, security, athlete village, volunteer services, opening and closing ceremonies, licensing and merchandising, accreditation, transportation What clients look for: Event management experience, languages, flexibility to travel, international experience, team mentality Example employers: Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, The Olympic Games, World Cup, European Championships

10. Divisional Sectors - Betting and Gaming Types of organisations: Operators, affiliates, software and payment providers, working across poker, casino, skill games and sportsbooks Typical roles: Online marketing, affiliate managers, CRM managers, business development, country managers What clients look for: Knowledge of betting, marketing knowledge, online experience Example employers: Betfair, Ladbrokes, 888.com, Full Tilt Poker

11. Divisional Sectors - Sports Law • Types of organisations: • Governing bodies, private practice, bigger companies in sport that can justify in-house departments, licensing agencies • Typical roles: • Lawyers, IPR, business affairs, licensing • What clients look for: • Classically trained lawyers that have moved to specialise in contract law (sponsorship contracts) or Intellectual Property (image rights etc) or commercial law • Example employers: • Denton Wilde Sapte, Couchman Harrington, Bird & Bird, UEFA, IOC, Octagon

12. Building a CV for the Sports Industry • Be positive - don't be too modest but never lie about your experience • Do not leave career gaps - if you have spent time travelling, say so • Your CV, employment and education should be in reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent) • Put the greatest emphasis on your most recent positions. Summarise older roles. Include dates and months of employment for each. • Use bullet points wherever possible to keep the contents concise (often only a few seconds to make an impact) • Check contact details are correct

13. Possible routes into the industry • Advertising/marketing agency • Consumer PR • Area sales at a sports brand • Media/B2B sales • FMCG marketing • Graduate training schemes/internships • Work experience

14. Profiles of recently graduated candidates Kirsty Donkersley 2000-2004 Jul 2002 - Aug 2003 Sept 2004 - Jul 2005 Jul 2005 BSc Management Sciences (2:1) from Loughborough University Work placement at Reebok - Youth Marketing Assistant Temporary administrative roles Account Executive at MEC:Sponsorship

15. Profiles of recently graduated candidates Mr. X 1999 - 2001 2001 - 2003 2003 - 2004 Jan - Jun 2005 Jul 2005 - Present BSc (Hons) Sports Technology at Staffordshire University Various sales assistant and junior marketing roles outside of the industry MBA Sport Management at Coventry University 6 month internship at IMG/TWI as a market researcher Sales Executive at Soccerex (conference organiser)

16. Get ahead of the competition • There are increasing numbers of sport related qualifications, and increasing number of applications. • However, the market is still growing, and where there is growth there is opportunity. • Play to your strengths • Look at your skill base and highlight your experience • Contacts are a valuable commodity and nurture them wherever possible • Do your research • Explore every possibility • Differentiate your CV from all the others, follow up and show the potential employer you are dedicated to developing your career within sport • Be realistic

17. Tips for the top • Languages - French, Spanish, Italian, German (now) • Cantonese or Mandarin (in future) • Networking - make the most of opportunities • Freedom to move around - becoming more of a global industry • Perseverance and patience - it may take time but if you really want it then keep trying. Be proactive. • Consider complementary sectors for jobs • Where possible, try to gain work experience

18. Further information Our website can provide more information and can be visited at www.sportsrecruitment.co.uk. We list the majority of our current vacancies. The Sports Recruitment Company, 21 New Row, Covent Garden, London WC2N 4LE Switchboard +44 (0)207 420 7800, Fax +44 (0)207 420 7801